fbedebick babcook



(N0 ModeL) J. F. BABGOUK.

DEVICE FOR SECURING, &@., THE CLOTH 0F BILLIARD TABLES. No. 257,541. Patented May 9,1882.

N. PETERS PhotoLiXllognzpncn Washington. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. FREDERICK BABCOGK, OF BANGOR, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHAS. P. WIGGIN AND WILLIAM H. BRADFORD, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR SECURING, 806., THE CLOTH OF BILLlARD-TABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,541, dated May 9, 1882.

Application filed February 25, 1882. (No modrl.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, J. FREDERICK BABOOCK, of Bangor, in the county of Penobscot and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Securing, &c., the Cloth of Billiard-Tables and I do hereby declare that thefollowin g is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, that willena-ble others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawin gs,forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 shows a plan of bottom rails and cushions removed; Figs. 2, 3, 4., and 5, details of modifications of my invention in section; Fig. 6, enlarged view, sectional, of clothstrengthening wire and attachingtack or hook.

Same letters show like parts.

My invention consists, first, in the combination, with the cloth covering of billiard-tables, of a stiffening or strengthening wire extending across its sides and ends at the edges, disconnected at the corners if the strengthening material requires such disconnection, enabling it to be more readily attached and detached to or from the frame of the table by the use of tacks, as now common; second, in the combination, with said cloth having stiffened or strengthened edges, of devices whereby it may be readily secured, stretched, loosened, or removed without the use of tacks; and, third, in employing for said strengthening material an elastic cord or band securely attached to the edges of said cloth and extending around the sides of the table, entering a continuous groove therein, and drawing, holding, and straining said cloth by its elasticity.

It is now customary to stretch and secure the covering-cloth of billiard-tables by hand, securing it by one or more rows of tacks as the work proceeds. It will be at once evident that if the edge of the cloth is stiffened by means of a wire, for instance, inclosed therein it can be much more easily stretched and fastened than if the edge is left with its natural elasticity, and that fewer tacks will be required to hold it in position.

One formof device applicable to my purpose of securing said cloth without the use of tacks I will now describe.

At a is shown the bed of the table, covered with a cloth, I), having a stiffening or strengthening wire, 0, secured around its sides and ends, disconnected at the, corners. To or around this wire at convenient distances are attached, preferably by hooks, cords (Z 6, or their equivalents, passing through or under the frame of the table below the edge of the cloth. These cords d are wound in opposite directions around a shaft, f, passing under the longitudinal center of the table and turned by a crank or similar device at g. The cords c from the ends of the table are wound in opposite directions around a shaft, h, extending across the middle of the table underneath and rotated by gears 17, meshing into gearsj upon the shaftf, so that the revolution of the latter shaft operates to wind up simultaneously all the cords attached to the cloth I), drawing the edges of the cloth downward in all directions and stretching it over the bed.

A ratchet and pinion upon the shaft f may be used, if desired, to retain the same at any required point, and, as will be evident, the shafts f or it may be duplicated, if necessary, without affecting the principle of the invention.

Many devices may be employed as modifications of the above-described apparatus for applying the strain to the cloth, some of which I will now describe:

The several cords (l or c, after passing through or under the table-frame, may be at tached to spiral or rubber springs having sufficient strength to exert the required strain, each pair of cords opposite each other having its own spring or sharing it with one or more pair, as preferred, (see detail, Fig. 2;) or each cord may have attached to it a weight sufficient to give the proper strain, as at detail, Fig. 3; or a groove, 1, may be cut around the bed or frame and the edge of the cloth preferably stiffened or strengthened as described retained therein by a strong rubber belt or band, m, extending entirely around the table, and straining the cloth by drawing it into the groove by its elasticity, (see detail, Fig. 4, sec tion 5) or this belt, cord, or band may be used to take place of the stiffening-wire as a strengthening material, securely attached to the edge of thecloth and sprung over the bed and into the groo\ 'es, retaining the cloth by its ela-s ticity, as before, (see detail, sectional, Fig. 5.) It will of course be understood that any de sired number of cords may be employed.

hat I claim as my invention is-- 1. In combination with a billiard-table, aeloth, 1), covering the same and provided with a strengthening or stifi'ening material around its edges, substantially as herein set forth.

2. In a billiard-table, the cloth b, strengthened at its edges, in combination with devices whereby said cloth may. be stretched or drawn over the bed with a substantially equal strain in all directions, substantially as herein set forth.

3. In a billiard-table, the cloth 12, strengthened or stiffened at its edges, in combination with cords d 0, passing through or under the frame of said table, and devices whereby said cords and attached cloth shall be stretched with a substantially equal strain in all directions, substantially as and for thepnrposes set forth.

I. In a billiard-table, the cloth I), strengthened or stiffened at its edges, in combination with cords d 0, attached to said edges, passing through or under the frame of said table below the bed, shafts/'1, gears t g, and crank or its equivalent attached to said shaftf, whereby said cords and attached cloth are stretched and drawn over said bed with a substantially equal strain in all directions,ashereinsetforth and described. g

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of February, 1882.

J. FREDERICK BABCOOK.

Vitnesses:

O. F. YOUNG, WM. FRANKLIN SEAVEY. 

